To ask the Minister of Education what public consultation was carried out by his Department prior to the decision to reduce hours for nursery and pre-school children with special educational needs.

Statutory responsibility for securing provision for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) rests with schools and the Education Authority (EA), which is responsible for identifying, assessing and, in appropriate cases, making provision for children with SEN. As such, it would be a matter for the EA to communicate and consult with those stakeholders affected by its decision regarding pre-school provision for children in special schools.

Given the current level of concerns and what I consider to be a lack of proper consultation by the Authority with parents and schools on this matter, I have instructed the EA to formally revisit its decision regarding pre-school provision in special schools.

Before reaching a final decision on how pre-school provision in special schools should be designed and delivered, I have called on the EA to provide me with assurances that there has been full and open engagement with those most directly affected by any decision on pre-school provision in special schools and that they have been listened to.

I have also emphasised that the overriding consideration must be how best to meet the needs of the children who will be accessing that provision.